MIGRATION AND REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN LIFE SATISFACTION IN THE ANGLOPHONE PROVINCES

Self-reported life satisfaction data are used in a project to triangul ate with a longstanding analysis of Canadian regional differences in q uality of life. The traditional analysis uses crime reports and vital statistics to demonstrate that indicators such as homicide, suicide, o r divorce rise from east to west. The predominately westward migration in Canada is an explanation assumed, but untestable, from the vital s tatistics approach. The present study uses the 1985 Statistics Canada General Social Survey to show that the satisfaction with life reported by the respondents largely follows the east-west gradient with respec t to non-economic domains. Quebec, where satisfaction was very low in the '85 survey, is a marked exception. The migration interpretation of the regional pattern finds support in multivariate analysis including region, migration status, and controls.